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Culture > News

Demi Lovato Was Hospitalized Following A Possible Overdose

Allison Crist

Demi Lovato was rushed to a Los Angeles hospital on Tuesday afternoon after suffering an apparent drug overdose, according to reports from PEOPLE, CNN, ABC News, and other sources. The singer’s rep has since issued a statement announcing that Demi’s now awake.

“Demi is awake and with her family who want to express thanks to everyone for the love, prayers, and support,” the spokesperson told Variety. “Some of the information being reported is incorrect and they respectfully ask for privacy and not speculation as her health and recovery is the most important thing right now.”

Los Angeles police confirmed that they responded to a call at a home on the same block Demi lives on in the Hollywood Hills for a female victim of a possible overdose, but L.A. police department spokesman Raymond Brown declined to name the individual who was eventually transported to a local hospital.

TMZ, who broke the story, initially reported that according to law enforcement sources, Demi’s overdose was related to heroin. Sources close to the singer deny the drug’s involvement, though. “Law enforcement sources say Lovato was not cooperative when EMTs arrived at her home Tuesday morning,” TMZ reported. “Those sources believed it was a heroin OD based on what they observed at her home, but a source close to Lovato tells us it was not heroin, though the source refused to divulge what caused the OD.”

According to TMZ, Demi also refused to name the drug that caused her to OD when speaking with paramedics. Numerous outlets reported that at one point Demi was unconscious, and Narcan — a drug used to treat narcotic overdoses in emergencies — brought her back. However, it’s not exactly known who administered the Narcan. According to US Weekly, it wasn’t the paramedics, but one of Demi’s friends. “One of her friends had Narcan on hand in case something like this happened. Her friends knew this was coming because she’s been using so much again. They were up all night partying the night before at her house,” a source told the magazine. “Luckily, the Narcan worked and she will recover.”

Law enforcement officials reportedly did not seize any drugs from the house, and as of right now, they’re not planning on pursuing criminal charges. 

The incident comes just one month after Demi revealed that she had relapsed in a song titled “Sober.” She previously announced in March that she was celebrating six years of sobriety. 

Throughout the past few years, Demi has been open about her struggle with addiction. She’s battled alcohol and substance abuse, in addition to an eating disorder and bipolar disorder. 

Demi’s ex-boyfriend of six years, Wilmer Valderrama, is reportedly beside himself over what happened. “Wilmer is completely devastated and he still loves Demi and it was just a matter of scheduling and time that they needed to make a romantic relationship work. He was not aware that her issues were this severe and intense at this time,” a source told Us Weekly. “She’s been honest with him about her relapse, as she has with her family, friends, fans and the entire public, especially with her new song, but he didn’t think it was this severe and that she would be struggling so much and have a situation that had these repercussions.”

Other celebrities, along with Demi’s fans, have expressed their love for her as she recovers in the hospital.

Hopefully, Demi is receiving the help and support she needs.

Follow Allison on Twitter @AllisonMCrist.